Policies & Fees

What We Do in a Counseling Session

Similar to medical health treatment, mental health treatment involves listening to your concerns and identifying your symptoms, measuring various aspects of your mental health experiences, and assessing internal and external factors that might be contributing to the problem. Best-practice requires that a good counselor will utilize the DSM-V & ICD-10 to devise a psychological diagnosis. However, a diagnosis in counseling could be focused on events in your life and does not necessarily imply that you have a "problem" or are experiencing psychopathology. Either way, gaining feedback about what could be happening in your life can be relieving. That way we can strategize together how to best move forward.

Why I Do Not Accept Insurance

I am a fee-for-service (also referred to as an out-of-network) provider, which means that if you want to use your insurance you will need to pre-pay for your session and then submit the receipt for potential partial reimbursement from your insurance company (check with your insurance company for details). The benefit of out-of-network is that you can choose from a larger variety of potentially more specialized counselors. Not utilizing your insurance also means that you will not receive a diagnosis on your medical record (required for insurance); and that I do not share any information about what we talk about with your insurance company or any other third party without your permission.

Session Times & Activities

A counseling session is limited to no longer than 50 minutes.  Our first session together is called an "intake session," which is limited to no longer than 90 minutes. My typical approach is generally structured, with a prescriptive plan for making change. This may include homework, independent reading, or skill-development in between our sessions. However, if this is unappealing, I am also happy to serve solely as a supportive and impartial listener who will provide candid, yet supportive feedback, without the rigidity of an agenda. I am open to either style, as long as our time together is therapeutically beneficial. 

Payment, 24-Hour Cancellation, and No-Show Policies

I require a minimum of 24 hours (1-day) notice to cancel or change your appointment without being charged a late cancellation fee. A Late cancellation will result in being charged for the session. If you do not show up for your appointment you will also be charged the full session rate due to "no show." All sessions are pre-paid at the time when you book your appointment via check, credit card, or cash. If you need to cancel or re-schedule a pre-paid appointment, your pre-payment will be applied to any appointment made within one-year from the time of payment. If you do not schedule an appointment within one-year from the time of payment, that payment will be considered forfeited as a "no show."

Communication Procedures, Technology, and Electronic-Communication

I check email once daily on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. For a faster response, you can call or text me during the week. I try to respond to calls and text messages within 24 hours, but there may be times that I am unable to respond quickly. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis you should call 988. If you are experiencing a mental health emergency or are concerned that you are someone else is at risk for self-harm or injury, you should call 911 or go to your nearest hospital emergency room. If you call or text me over the weekend or holiday, I will not be able to get back to you until the following business day. Please note that email is not considered a confidential form of communication, therefore when you engage in email you are doing so at your own risk. If you decide to contact me via email, please limit your email to information regarding scheduling or other non-sensitive questions.

Virtual Telehealth Counseling via Phone, Internet, Video Conference

I currently offer telemental health counseling in select areas. This practice is limited to client issues that are appropriate in a telemental health setting. I am happy to consult via phone or email to determine if telemental health counseling is appropriate for your situation.

Complimentary Phone Consultation

If you are considering becoming a client and would like to discuss details about my approach and process, I am available for a 15-minute complimentary phone or face-to-face consultation.  Phone consultation for current clients is available during normal business hours but will be billed as a phone consultation or counseling session (depending on length).

Confidentiality and Privacy

I take confidentiality very seriously and am legally bound to keep everything we talk about confidential, with the exception of these four things. I cannot keep confidential anything you share that involves: 1) harming yourself, 2) harming someone else, 3) harming a minor, or 4) harming a vulnerable adult (i.e. someone incapacitated, with a disability, or who is elderly). The records that I take from each of our sessions focus primarily on diagnostic criteria and treatment strategies. I try my best to avoid documenting any sensitive information, unless that information is essential to your treatment. 

Your HIPAA Patient Privacy Rights

HIPAA stands for Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.  Healthcare providers are required to handle your Protected Healthcare Information (PHI) in an ethical and fair manner (which means that you have the right to access your own medical records). You can learn more about your specific rights at this link:  https://www.privacyrights.org/consumer-guides/hipaa-privacy-rule-patients-rights

My Non-Judgmental Philosophy

The counseling profession requires significant humility, largely because it opens your eyes to the vast, often contrasting differences between cultures in our world. Therefore, I believe that your life is yours to walk. I recognize that there are so many factors that contribute to who you are, and therefore I have no right, nor interest, in judging the decisions you make. With this said, I may share with you the potential consequences that I believe could result from your choices. If you ask for my opinion I will be honest about how and why I might consider a certain choice if it was my choice to make. However, I believe that even when we are at our worst, it is a basic human right to have the autonomy to make our own choice, and that each choice deserves to be met with dignity and respect.

Hours of Operation

I am currently accepting new clients in the Dakota Dunes on Monday and Thursday between the hours of 9:00am - 5:00pm.

Fees for Service